True Love Spoiled Brats and More

Posted On 29 Sep 2016 / 0 Comment

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Dear Rocco,

I ended up marrying my high school sweetheart after reconnecting after 30 years apart. So far things haven’t been what I expected. He’s a successful business owner and we have no financial worries but I feel as if he changed from the days when we were in school. I also get the feeling he’s not paying enough attention to me as he did when we were kids. While we don’t argue a lot I’m wondering if I made a mistake by marrying him after all these years.

HM

Dear HM,

Grow up. How old are you? Of course you’ve both changed. It’s been 30 years. Priorities change, concerns change, even motivation changes the older we get. And let us not forget how you both have changed physically. Without the aid of a plastic surgeon there are probably things that are sagging on the both of you that were tight when you were kids. Life has that way of doing this to us all. I’m not sure why you are complaining. If you are well off financially, still get along most of the time and can be loyal to one another you are way ahead of the curve. Quit your bitching or move back home to your mommy.

Dear Rocco,

I don’t know whether I have made a mistake. I recently purchased an expensive new car and have three years of stiff payments ahead. The car is the only thing stopping me from traveling internationally for a few months. I have always yearned to do this. Some people tell me that this is the only time in my life I would be able to have an expensive car, because I still live with my parents. Others say that I should have traveled first. I will be 21 in the autumn. I am confused. What would you have done, bought the car or traveled?

SB

Dear SB,

Too much is put on having a new car. The car has evolved from when our parents and grandparents were our age. The new car thing is a vacuum that sucks you in to a lifetime of payments all for ego gratification. I personally have never owned a new car and I do just fine. A car is like any other investment. It takes research. Depending on what you’re looking for in a car, once you pick out the name you want (BMW, Jeep, etc) there is plenty of data out there on each car’s performance, reliability and what individuals who own that model think of the car – not a paid magazine reviewer. You might be surprised that a number of cars have “good” years of models that outperform in many ways newer or even new cars. There is always a chance of maintenance issues, but there is also an accident chance every time you leave your driveway. Spend wisely. And as far as traveling the world, it must be nice to have an expensive car and traveling the world to be you two top concerns.

Dear Rocco,

My closest friend for twelve years is getting married. During her first marriage, our friendship was stronger than ever. With her coming marriage however, I get the feeling our friendship is on the skids. Soon I will be the guy that visits every other Thanksgiving. Her children will vaguely remember me. It seems like she has found the perfect man and doesn’t need me anymore. We used to have so many inside jokes, now I listen to her tell me about their inside jokes. When other close friends got married, I didn’t lose a close friend; I gained more good friends. But this one feels different.

RH

Dear RH,

Grow a pair. Obviously you have been in love with your friend for the longest time and did nothing about it. Why? That possibly could have been you she was marrying instead of someone else. Instead of all this would of, should have crap you should have gone for it. No, it wouldn’t have damaged your friendship if there was rejection. The only thing damged in these situations is ego and it’s something you have to put behind you if you want to move forward in your life. You inaction left a perfect opening for someone else to swoop in and claim your happiness. Congratulations.

Dear Rocco,

I am 13 years old. I have a wonderful step-dad who has taken care of me since I was born. He and I don’t really ever talk except when I ask him to go somewhere or when I want something. That’s the only time I ever hug him too. What should I do so I can be closer to him?

PJ

Dear PJ,

Talk, ask questions. That is the only way. He might be floored by you doing that but at you age most kids have no desire for a relationship with their parents and especially step-parents. Most of us look back at our teen years and are a little embarrassed by our behavior towards our parents. Yet they are always there for us.

Rocco is a common sense, tell-it-like-it-is, no-nonsense kind of guy offering real advice on any subject put before him. Why pay thousands of dollars on a high-priced therapist when he’ll straighten you out for free. If you’d like advice from Rocco e-mail him at goaskrocco@yahoo.com or drop him a line at Ask Rocco c/o Enigma P.O. Box 825 Chattanooga, TN 37401.